Lunch box



A; C. EIDE LUNCH BOX- Marth 28, 1950 Filed May 1'7, 1948 2 rqj/ENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 28, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LUNCH BOX v A lbert Eide. Duluth, Minn. 7 Application May 17, 194s',jser wi1f1wo. 27,500

This invention relates to a .combination slidably separable receptacle especially adapted for use as a lunch box, one of the principal objects being to provide simple means whereby if, for any reason, the separable parts might become insecurely closed subsequent to their initial cooperative union, the contents of the major receptacle particularly may be saved from loss by simple restoration of the initial sliding motion of the lesser portion of the unit by which the union took place and that without exposing in any way that portion of the contents intermediate of the two portions of the box.

A further object is that of providing auxiliary protection for the cup-like stopper cap of the thermos bottle within the minor portion of the box.

Still another object is to provide a novel fixed upstanding handle upon the foremost upper surface of the minor portion of the box.

Still another object is to provide a novel fixed upstanding handle upon the foremost upper surface of the minor portion and in direct association with the catch which holds the two portions of the unit together so that when united or disengaged the functioning of either is most keenly sensed by the hand operating same.

Furthermore such positioning of the handle is most convenient for handling the unit when assembled as well as ideal for manipulation of the thermos bottle individually.

Afurther exceptional feature of the unit is the matter of stability especially when assembled.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the further description of the invention.

In the accompanying drawing forming part of this application:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevational view partly assembled.

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2--2 Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a reduced longitudinal central sectional 2 Claims. (01.. 2016-4 view of the minor slidable portion showing the This latter portion is so shaped and of a length to neatly accommodate a common thermos bottle as shown at 3, there also being shown the usual screwthreadedly mounted stopper cap 4 for the bottle 3.

The protective functioning to the stopper end 2 1 of the thermos bottle is further augmented by the upwardly projecting hood-like compartment ill of the major receptacle i when the two portions of the box are united.

The manner of cooperative assembly of the parts of the box as well as the automatic holding together or releasing thereof is deemed novel in that the same is accomplished by longitudinal sliding together or apart of the major and minor portions. For convenience in such operation the single arcuately shaped handle 5 is rigidly fixed to the minor portion 2 adjacent and in longitudinal alignment with any convenient type of suitable spring catch as suggested by the portions 6 and I. This brings the handle, when the two parts of the box are assembled, practically centrally thereof and being automatically locked and normally upstanding is most convenient to grasp, if necessity requires quick action as well as incidentally affording protection against overloading of objects thereabove.

The slidable engagement of the two principal parts of the box is accomplished by the formation of the outwardly facing channel-like inwardly projecting female beads 8-8, one integral with the upper edge of each side member of the open face of the major receptacle, these beads being for cooperative slidable reception of the somewhat similarly shaped though closed inwardly projecting male beads 9 formed upon the opposed edges of the otherwise fiat bottom I l of the minor receptacle 2 so that when the two receptacles are held so that the leading ends of the male bead at the front end of the minor receptacle register for entry within the receiving end of the female beads at the rear end of the major receptacle, all that is required for ultimate union and locking together of said principal parts is the sliding together thereof; and which is quite obvious will automatically house the stopper cap 4 of the thermos bottle Within the auxiliary hood I0 of the major receptacle I, a projecting rib l2 being provided on the inner side of the hood H) to provide a stop for the minor portion when in innermost position.

From the above it is deemed obvious that I have provided a most simple and complete exceptionally well protected and inexpensive lunch box requiring only reciprocal longitudinal sliding motion of the two principal parts to accomplish any desired open or closed relation thereof or complete separation of said parts, and that with simultaneous locking or unlocking of said parts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. In a lunch box, a lower portion constituting a food receptacle, female beads formed at the upper side edges thereof, an upper hollow portion open at one end, having its lower side edges formed with male beads fitting within said female beads to provide a sliding engagement between said portions, and adapted to hold a round bottle, the mouth of said bottle projecting through said opening, a, screw cap for enclosing the projecting end of said bottle and for closing the open end of said upper portions, and an upstanding hood portion at one end of said lower portion'for enclosing said cap when said upper portion is slid on said lower portion.

2, A lunch box comprising a lower receptacle, anlupstanding hood portion fixed to said receptacleadjacent one end thereof, an upper hollow portion open at one end, a bottle within said upper portion, the mouth of said bottle projecting through said opening, a screw cap for enclosing the projecting end of said bottle and for closing the end of said upper portion, interengageable beads formed on the upper edges of said lower receptacle and on the lower edges of said upper portion to provide a sliding engagement between said portions, said hood portion being of a length to enclose said cap when said portions are slid together.

ALBERT C. EIDE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,053,097 Lamb Feb. 11, 1913 0 1,901,534 Redfield Mar. 14, 1933 

